Buy it Now and offers on Ebay

[DynaEtch]

Anyone else getting constant offers through messages on their buy it now only items? Seems to be more common practice than ever these days. Do you even respond?

If I list an item with buy it now only, it's almost a guarantee the offers will start pouring in through messages. Buy it Now just doesnt mean much anymore...I wonder if ebay should just do away with it and make everything OBO to make it easier (half joking here).

[Breesus85]

Unless you have no flexibility on price, I'd include Best Offer on all listings. I'm making a good portion of sales on offers. Also on my auctions I have the Best Offer function there too. Every once in a while I'll get offer that is substantially above where I think the auction would end.

[jamcas997]

Most of my listings are at lowest listed of close to previous sold items. What gets me is when you are already low and people think they have every right to lowball you for almost 50% of that. I end up ignoring and if they contact again I usually keep ignoring. Some times I will respond with the my item is lowest listed maybe you could ask a seller with one listed higher.

[thenightman]

Anyone else getting constant offers through messages on their buy it now only items? Seems to be more common practice than ever these days. Do you even respond?

If I list an item with buy it now only, it's almost a guarantee the offers will start pouring in through messages. Buy it Now just doesnt mean much anymore...I wonder if ebay should just do away with it and make everything OBO to make it easier (half joking here).

I respond to all offers. The reason why I don't just go ahead and add BO to my listings is because in my experience those who reach out are typically more serious buyers. Every now and again I'll get a message with a lowball offer, but over 50% of the time I got lowball offers when I had BOs set up.

[Swipe79]

I have a love/hate relationship with BN/BO. I do accept offers on most cards but the number of dumb offers seems to have increased lately. I always check offers, it happens sometimes that I priced a card high or had it listed and the price has come down a fair bit. Many times the offer is half or less than what recent sales are.

I also offer automatic 25% discounts on my low end stuff once you hit four cards in your cart...it's amazing how few people notice that and make 10-20% offers on 20+ cards.

[JeffG1954]

I have the BO option on most of my items....I don't mind the lowball offers, takes no time to decline. I like it because I get the chance to check the buyers feedback, and feedback left for sellers.....I am able to block problem buyers before they cause a problem.....unless they hit the full BIN. My experience is that most of the problems are not caused by buyers who hit the full price BIN, but by buyers who make offers.

[DynaEtch]

I usually have a mix of strict buy it now with obo's. I especially like obo for higher priced items with the added bonus it lets you screen buyers.

Even with the mix, I've learned it doesnt really matter all that much as I get offers either way. There are reasons I think strict buy it now has its perks. Less of a hassle with negotiations (in theory), lower list price, etc (one thing Ive noticed is buyers do not generally like only getting a very slight deal off with the best offer...say 10% off...they almost assume it should be 1/4 off or more. This means I generally have to price the list price decently high over the going rate if doing obo).

I have mixed thoughts on the auto-decline feature. It does help streamline the process and weed out the lowballs, but on the other hand buyers will fish for that auto-decline number, thinking it is what you'd be ok to sell for, and that's that.....but that shouldnt be what it means, and I will counter offers above the autodecline number sometimes.

Finally, someone mentioned auctions with offers. I've been in some awkward situations with that as a buyer: for example, item starts at $20 with best offer at auction. I offer $120, and it doesnt get accepted, then by happenstance I win the item at $80. I imagine some sellers might be upset with that, knowing I would have paid more, but the sellers this happened with luckily were honest and went through with it as normal.

[DynaEtch]

I get buyers who message offers even when the listing is Buy it Now with best offer.....just happened tonight. I mean if you're going to make an offer, just make the offer lol.

What's the psychology behind that? Buyers think by messaging the offer they're making it more personal getting a dialogue going and you'll accept? Or I guess they just dont want to use one of the 5 offers.

[rwperu34]

I respond to all offers. The reason why I don't just go ahead and add BO to my listings is because in my experience those who reach out are typically more serious buyers. Every now and again I'll get a message with a lowball offer, but over 50% of the time I got lowball offers when I had BOs set up.

I agree with thenightman. The offers I get through messaging are typically better. I'd still say I decline 90% of them with a "No thank you" or "I'll wait until the season starts", but every now and then I'll hit "reply with offer".

I don't put many BO on my listings and I don't bother with BO when I'm buying. I simply don't need to waste time in negotiations. I'll get plenty of sales with normal ol' BIN and plenty of purchases at auction.

To the OP, I have not noticed an uptick in offers. Pretty much same as always.

[cardshopmd]

Here is the thing. If you don't respond to the messages ebay will lower your items in the search rankings. So respond to them with say an offer of $1 less, It will get them off your back and some may even just buy the card out right from you.

[DynaEtch]

I also get the ol "what's the lowest you'd go" oh so often. I really do get these sort of messages multiple times a day. I suppose this thread is more just a vent than anything.

Part of me wants to respond what the highest they'll go, but I never do, just send a polite response "I dont have an exact number in mind, thanks for the interest".

Here is the thing. If you don't respond to the messages ebay will lower your items in the search rankings. So respond to them with say an offer of $1 less, It will get them off your back and some may even just buy the card out right from you.

Huh never knew that about lowering search rankings. I like the $1 off response in theory, but I feel that would anger the buyer sufficiently enough, even more than if you just say you're looking for asking price, that they would be immediately put off and lose interest.

[MasterOfTheDark]

Anyone else getting constant offers through messages on their buy it now only items?

That's one of my biggest pet peeves. If I wanted offers, it would have the "Best Offer" feature on it. It's free and takes 1 click to add the feature. So if a listing doesn't have the feature, then clearly I don't want offers. Haha.

I always respond politely while pointing that out though, something like:

"I am sorry, but this is a fixed price listing that does not have a "Best Offer" feature on it, so I am not taking offers at this time. Thanks."

[valleynuckfan]

I also get the ol "what's the lowest you'd go" oh so often. I really do get these sort of messages multiple times a day. I suppose this thread is more just a vent than anything.

Part of me wants to respond what the highest they'll go, but I never do, just send a polite response "I dont have an exact number in mind, thanks for the interest".

Yeah right?:D
My response is "You need to make an offer. Thank you for your interest. Regards,
....

[rwperu34]

Here is the thing. If you don't respond to the messages ebay will lower your items in the search rankings. So respond to them with say an offer of $1 less, It will get them off your back and some may even just buy the card out right from you.

I think "no thank you" works just as well. Many times I've said that and they just hit the BIN.